Adjustable beam hanger



Filed April 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet actor/" 4 July 9, 1929. J RATlGAN1,720,056

ADJUSTABLE BEAM HANGER Filed April 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedJuly 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES JAMES P. BATIGAN, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ADJUSTABLE BEAM HANGER.

Application filed April 18, 1928. Serial No. 270,883..

This invention relates to adjustable beam hangers of the type employed,for example, for operatively connecting the polish rod of an oil wellpump to the operating member.

The operating member is usually a walking beam and is sometimes a, sotermed, pumping jack.

An important object of the present invention is to minimize side thrustor flexing of the polish rod as it ascends and descends so as to avoidpressing the sucker rods against the pump tubing, thus minimizing wearon the sucker rods and pump tubing. Minimizing of side thrust on thepolish rod also reduces wear on it and on the stufling box through whichit passes. a

The invention relates more particularly to a jointed beam hangercomprising sections that are hinged together. In my former Patent Number1,646,558, dated October 25, 1927, there was disclosed a jointed beamhanger provided with a connection between the operating member and oneof the sections of the beam hanger so as to induce swinging of one ofthe sections relative to the other as the operating member moved up anddown. In other words, there was provided a device for kicking out theupper beam hanger section as the operating member moved on its upstroke, and an object of this invention is to improve the device foreffecting the kick out of the upper section.

Another object is to provide a construction which will admit ofadjustment of the kick out means so that the desired results can besecured when the beam hanger is hung from longer or shorter walkingbeams.

Another object is to make provision for lateral swinging between thebeam hanger and the operating member on which it rests so that, in eventof the upper face of the operating member not being horizontaltransversely of the operating member, the beam hanger will self-alignitself so that a bending strain will not come upon the beam hanger.

Another object is to make provision for convenient securingof the beamhanger to, and removal thereof, from the operating member.

Another object is to provide for adjustment of the beam hanger intodifferent positions along the walking beam so as to properly center thejoint of the beam hanger with respect to the polish rod of the pump.

Another object is to provide for adequate lubrication of the beam hangerjoint.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the subjoined detaileddescription.

Theaccompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a beam hanger constructed in accordancewith the provisions of this invention, an operating member, a polishrod, and the connections between the beam hanger and polish rod alsobeing shown. A portion of the o erating member is broken away tocontract t e View.

Fig. 2 is an elevation ofFig. 1 from the right thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental plan View of Fig. 1, portions of thebail and cross memher being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section on the line indicated by 44, Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental vertical section on the irregular lineindicated by 55, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental view, partly in section, from the line indicatedby 6-6, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical view, partly in section, from the line indicated by77, Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a fragmental elevation from the line indicated by 88, Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line indicated by 99, Fig.3.

An operating member is indicated at A, being fulcrumed at B on astandard C. Pump tubing is indicated at D, and on the upper end thereofis a stufling box E through which operates a polish rod F. A grip Gengages the polish rod F, and is suspended by reins H from a crossmember J. This newly-invented beam hanger connects the operating memberA which, in this instance, is in the form of a walking beam, to thecross member J that supports the reins H.

The beam hanger comprises hingedly connected upper and lower sections11, 12 the hinge being indicated at 13. The section 11 passes throughthe slot K in the operating member A, said slot extending longitudinallyof the operating member in one end thereof in the customary manner. Therear wall of the slot K extends aslant inwardly and downwardly asindicated at M.

The kick-out device, indicated in eneral bythe character 14:, forkicking out t e section 11 on the upstroke of the operating member A, isengaged by the rear wall M of the slot K. The section 11 is suflicientlylon so that, when it is swingingly mounted on t e upper face of theoperating member A and said opcrating member is approximatelyhorizontal,

the axes of the hinge 13 and of the fulcrum B will approximately lie ina horizontal plane.

. The kick-out device 14 comprises hingedly jointed upper andintermediate sections 15, 16 and a lower section 17 which is adjustablyconnected to the section 16. The hinge pin connecting the sections 15,16 is indicated at 18. The adjustment between the sections 16, 17 isefiected, in this instance, by ascrewthreaded portion 19 of the. section17 screwed into the section 16. A locking nut 20 on the threaded portion19 engages the lower end of the section 16.

The hinge pin 18 may be selectively engaged with one of a number ofholes 21 in the section 15 so as to provide for relatively greatadjustments in the angle of the section 15 relative to the section 11.The lower end of the section. 17, which is in the form of a rod, ispreferably rounded, as indicated at 22 and engages in a socket 23 formedin one side of the section 11, the axis of said socket being aslantrelative to the longitudinal axis of the section 11, and the angle ofsaid slant being approximately 45 relative to the longitudinal axis ofthe section 11. The diameter of the socket 23 is considerably greaterthan the diameter of'the member 17 so that the section 17 may beadjusted to difiercnt angles relative to the axis of the socket. Thus,it will be readily seen that the kick-out device is loosely connected atits lower end to the section 11.

The upper end of thesection 15 is pivoted or hinged at 24 to a stud 25that may be selectively positioned lengthwise of the section 11 m anyone of a number of holes 26 which extend' transversely of the upperportion of said section 11. The holes 26 extend entirely through thesection 11 and through the axis of said section extends a slot 27 sothat the opposite end portions of the holes 26 communicate with saidslot. The stud 25v is just sufliciently long to project into the slot 27and the inward projecting end of said stud 25 is provided with a dowelpin 28 to prevent the stud from being pulled out of the hole in which itis seated. In this instance three holes 26 are provided, though agreater or less number may be employed, if desired.

In order to pivotall su port the section 11 on the operating member 2,there is provided a pin 29 adapted to be selectively engaged in any ofthe holes 26 not occupied by the stud 25. The ends of the pin 29 projectbeyond the section 11 and the projecting ends are provided with dowelpins 30 to prevent the pin becoming detached from the section 11. Thepin 29 passes through a bar 31 adapted to rest on the upper face of theoperating memher A, said bar passing through the slot 27. Thus the bar31 can rock in a vertical plane about the axis of the pin 29 so that ifthe upper face of the operating member A be inclined to the horizontal,as shown in Fig. 2,

the load carried by the section 11 will be uniformly distributed to bothends of the bar 31, thus preventing tendency to canting to one side ofthe sections 11 and 12 and thus avoiding bending and breaking strains insaid sections.

To the ends of the bar 31 is pivoted at 32 a bail 33 which is adapted torest upon the upper face of the operating member A when the beam hangeris in use. When it is desired to lift the beam hanger mi of theoperating member, the hoisting tackle will be attached to the bail 33and the bail can be secured to the operating member by any suitablemeans. The securing means is preferably adjustable so that the bail 33can be secured in slightly different positions so as to properly centerthe hinge 13 over the polish rod.

Thiscentering of the hinge 13 over the polish rod will preferably beaccomplished when the operating member is in the position which itoccupies at the time the polish rod is at the lower end of its downstroke. When the polish rod is in mid stroke, the hinge 13 will beslightly offset from a point directly over the axis of the polish rod,as shown in Fig. 1. But at the upper end of the stroke of the polish rodthe hinge 13 will again be positioned directly over the axis of thepolish rod.

A device, indicated in general by the charactor 34, is employed foradjustably securing the bail 33 to the operating member. This fasteningdevice will not be claimed, per se, herein, but will be described inorder to make clear how the adjustment of the bail 33 is effected. Thisfastening device 34 comprises a plate 35 secured by bolts 36 and/ornails 37 to the upper face of the operating member A, and it alsocomprises a chain 38 adjustably connected at both ends to the bolt 35.For this purpose one end of the chain 38 connects with an eye bolt 39which passes through a hole 40 in an upstanding flange 41 of the plate35. A wing nut 42 is threaded on the eye bolt 39 and bears against theflange 40 so as to limit outward movement of the eye bolt. Smalladjustments may be made by screwing or unscrewing the wing nut 42. Theflange 40 is provided with a rearwardly and upwardly slanting face 43provided with a vertical slot 44 opening at the upper edge of the flangeso that any link of the chain can be dropped into said slot to hold thechain in any desired position for adjustment.

Thus, relatively large adjustments of the chain may be eflected byengaging different links with the slot 44, and the smaller adj u'stmentswill be made by turning the wing nut 42. It will be clear from theforegoing that after the device 34 is secured to the operating member,the bail 33 may be shifted lengthwise of the operating member and thensecured by the device 34 against outward movement along the operatingmember. In any event, adjustments of very great magnitude of the bail 33will not be necessary. The adjustment of the bail 33 may be such, insome instances, as to remove the upper end of the kick-out section 15from contact with the rear slot wall M, but the lower end portion ofsaid section 15 will, in all instances, engage said rear slot wall so asto hold the axis of the hinge 13 the desired distance from the fulcrumB.

The hinge 13 will now be described. The lower end of the section 11 isprovided with an approximately cylindrical bore in which is mounted abushing 46 provided at its opposite ends with flanges 47, 48. In thisinstance, the flange 47 is integral with the body of the bushing and theflange 48 constitutes a nut screwthreaded onto said bushing body. Theflange 47 bears against a shoulder 49 in the bore 45 and the flange 48bears against a shoulder 50 in said bore. The outer face of the bushing46 is provided with a flat side 51 which engages a flat face 52 of thebore 45 so as to prevent-turning of the bushing in the bore.

Fitting in and extending through the bore of the bushing 46 is a hollowshaft 53, the ends of which project beyond the flanges 47, 48. Theprojecting ends of the shaft 53 extend into circular holes 54 infurcations 55 that terminate the upper end of the section 12. Throughthe shaft 53 extends a bolt 56, the head 57 of said bolt 1 ing within arecess 58 in one end of the shaflt 53. The other end of the shaft 53 isprovided with a square head 59 and the hole 54 is square to fit saidhead. Aside from the head 59, the shaft 53 is cylindrical in crosssection and the head 59 limits endwise movement of the shaft 53 to theleft in Fig. 5. The bolt 56 is provided with a nut 60 and between saidnut and the adjacent furcation 55 is a washer 61. The nut 60, washer 61and bolt 56 limit shifting of the shaft 53 to the right in Figure 5.

The wall of the bore 45 is provided with an annular groove 62 whichcommunicates with an oil reservoir 63 in the section 11, said reservoirbeing provided with a filling opening 64 that is closed by a removablelug 65 screwed into said opening. The bus ing 46 is provided with a port66 that communicates with the groove 62 so that oil can pass from saidgroove through the port 66 to the surfaces that are to be lubricated.

The invention being mounted, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, operatesas follows:

Assuming that the right end of the operat ing member A is movedupwardly, the kickout device 14, resting against the rear slot wall end,prevents the hinge 13 from swinging toward the fulcrum B, thusmaintaining said hinge approximately in alignment with the axis of thepolish rod. When the operating member A moves on its down stroke, topermit the polish rod to lower, the pull of the polish rod on the beamhanger will maintain the hinge joint 13 approximately in positiondirectly overthe axis of the polish rod, and

this pull may even result in swinging the kickout device 14 out ofengagement with the rear slot wall end. Thus, on the down stroke of thepolish rod the beam hanger is free to swing into such position as willprevent bending or lateral deflection of the polish rod, and on the upstroke of the polish rod the beam hanger operates to maintain the centerof the pull, represented by the hinge 13, approximaitely directly overthe axis of the polish ro In installing the invention, the hoistingtackle will be secured to the bail 33 and the beam hanger will then beswung into position to rest the bar 31 on the upper face of theoperating member. The chain 38 will then be passed through the bail andpulled as taut as possible and theappropriate link of the chain will bedropped into the slot 44.

The operating member A will then be swung with its right end, in Fig. 1,at the lower end of its stroke and the hinge 13 will be accuratelyaligned with the polish rod by adjusting the bail 33 toward or from theadjacent end of the operating member, the chain 38 being taken up or letout to admit of the bail being so adjusted. The final minute adjustmentwill be effected by turning the wing nut 42. After thus adjusting thebeam hanger on the operating member, the section 17 will be screwed inor out of the section 16 until at least the lower end of the section 15rests against the rear slot wall M, when the section 17 is engaged inthe socket 23. It will be readily seen that if, on account of thefulcrum B of the operating member being not absolutely horizontal, or ofthe upper face of the operating member being aslant to the horizontal,the section 11 will swing in a direction transversely of the operatingmember so as to lie in a vertical plane that cuts through the operatingmember. Thus there will be no bending strains on the beam hanger tendingto break it.

In the drawings, the section 11 is illustrated as provided at its lowerend with an arm 66 which may be used to carry a pawl, not shown, forrotation of a ratchet member as illustrated in Patent No. 1,608,001issued to me on November 23, 1928.

It is to be noted that the slanting face 43 prevents the chain 38 fromaccidentally slid ing out of engagement with the flange 41 when the beamhanger is in operation.

If relatively great adjustments in the angle of the section 15 arenecessary, the stud 25 will be removed from the holes 26 which itoccupies and be placed in another of said holes. Also, the pin 29 may bepositioned in a different hole 26, when that is necessary to bring theaxis of the hinge 13, when the operating member A is substantiallyhorizontal, nearest to the horizontal lane P, in Fig. 1, that passesthrough the axis of the fulcrum B.

The cross member J may be pivotally connected by a pivot pin 67 to thestem section 12, the stem comprising besides the section 12, the section11 and the hinge joint that connects said sections. The pivot pin 67passes through holes 68 in furcations 69 of the section 12 so that thecross member J will be positioned between said furcations.

It is to be noted that the pump and rods may be pulledwithout removingthe beam hanger from the beam. To accomplish this, the beam is tiltedwith its hanger-supporting end up and the section 17 is then removedfrom the socket 23 so as to permit collapsing of the kick-out device,thus permitting the stem to swing toward the beam and away from aposition axially of the polish rod.

I claim:

1. An adjustable beam hanger comprising hingedlyconnected sections, ameans to pivotally support one of said sections on an operating member,other pivotally connected sections, one. of the lastmentioned sectionspivotally connected with the first mentioned section, and the other ofthe last mentioned sections adjustably connected with the firstmentioned section.

2. An adjustable beam hanger comprising hingedly connected sections, ameans to'pivotally support one of said sections on an 30pivotallyconnected with the first mentioned section, a socket on thefirst mentioned section, and a means loosely engaging the socket andadjustably connected with the other of the last mentioned sections.

4. An adjustable beam hanger comprising hingedly connected sections, oneabove the other, the upper section provided with a number oftransversely extending holes, a stud adapted to be selectively engagedin the holes, a section pivoted at its upper end to the stud,

another section pivoted to the lower end of the last mentioned section,and means adjustably connecting the last mentioned section with theupper section.

5. An adjustable beam hanger comprising a stem, a bail pivotallyconnected to the upper end of the stem and adapted to rest on the upperface of theoperating member, and a means to adjust the bail lengthwiseof the operating member.

6. An adjustable beam hanger comprising a stem provided with atransversely extending hole, a pin secured in said hole, and a bearingmounted to rock on said pin.

7'. An adjustable beam hanger comprising a stem provided with atransverselyextending hole, a pin secured in said hole, a bar rockablymounted on said pin, and a bail pivoted to the ends of said bar.

8. An adjustable beam hanger comprising hingedly jointed sections, oneabove the other, the upper section provided with an oil reservoir andprovided with an annular groove surrounding the hinge joint, said groovecommunicating with said-reservoir, and a means to pivotally su port theupper section on an operating mem er. 7

9. An adjustable beam hanger, comprising 'hingedly jointed sections, oneabove the other,

the upper section provided with an oil reservoir and provided with anannular groove surrounding the hinge joint, said groove communicatingwith said reservoir, and a means to support the upper section on anoperating member.

10. An adjustable beam hanger comprising hingedly connected sections,one above the other, a third section, a means pivotally and adjustablyconnecting the upper end of the third section with the upper end of saidupper section, a fourth section pivoted to the lower end of said thirdsection, and means adjustably connecting the fourth section with saidupper section.

11. An adjustable beam hanger comprlsing a stem provided with atransversely extending hole, a pin secured in said hole, and a barrockably mounted onsaid pin. I

Signed at Los Angeles, California, this 4th day of April, 1928.

JAMES P. RATIGAN.

